Open choker hook



Aug. 10, 1954 w. A. MEIGHAN 2,686,074

' OPEN CHOKER HOOK Original Filed April 19, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

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Aug. 10, 1954 w. A. MEIGHAN 2,686,074

OPEN CHOKER HOOK Original Filed April 19, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WiZZiamflMeihan Patented Aug. 10, 1954 OPEN CHOKER HOOK William A. Meighan, Oswego, Oreg.

Original application April 19, 1948, Serial No.

Divided and this application October 15, 1951, Serial No. 251,415 1 5 Claims.

This invention pertains to rope fittings, and relates particularly to novel means for detachably but positively holding a wire choker rope about an article or a bundle of articles such as logs,- lengths of pulpwood, pieces of cordwood, and the like. It is a division from my copending application Serial No. 21,825, filed April 19, 1948, and entitled Bundling Choker, which application matured as United States Patent No. 2,611,638, under date of September 23, 1952.

In the logging industry, for example, choker ropes have long been used to drag out timber from the forest to a waterway or other convenient site from which the logs are transported to the mills. The ropes employed are necessarily large in cross section and are usually constructed of a number of wires woven into the form of a heavy cable to provide the strength required for such uses. These cables accordingly are stiff and resistant to bending, thus causing considerable dimculty in the formation of knots therein or in otherwise manipulating them during attachment to such devices as terminal fittings and choker hooks. This difficulty heretofore has been avoided by attaching closed loops or ferrules to the end of the rope by means of clamps, solder, babbit, etc., which loops or ferrules served as means for attaching the end of the rope to a hook or other device slidably mounted on the rope. Not only does this procedure necessitate the use of special equipment which must be made available at the logging site, but the fastening means thus provided does not afford a positive grip for securing and holding the timbers or logs in a tight bundle.

This latter disadvantage is of particular concern in present day logging operations. With the sharp decline in the quantity of available timber, it has become necessary to salvage cordwood, pulp logs, second growth timber and water soaked lengths and other wood of relatively short lengths which are of use in the manufacture of paper pulp, cardboards and other commodities made from ground or defibered woods. Economic factors prohibit the handling of such wood in individual pieces, and the choker ropes heretofore employed are incapable of positively securing and maintaining a bundle of such logs in compact form during the logging and freighting operations. This is because the choker ropes maintain a relatively firm hold on the logs only while sufiicient tension is maintained upon the drag line extending from the choker loop. Also when a bundle of logs is being dragged over the immediately loosens the grip of'the choker, and

some of the logs may slip away from the bundle, or the latter may otherwise be disarranged. Moreover, even if the bundle of logs is successfully hauled from the forest to the site where the logs are to be loaded onto freight cars, or onto logging trucks, or into a waterway for subsequent transport, the hold on the bundle is relaxed when the drag line is removed.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a choker assembly in which one end of a choker rope is tied to a choker hook to which an intermediate portion of said rope may be re leasably engaged but which engagement may not be relaxed except after positive manual manipulation.

Another important object of the invention is to provide in a choker hook a clamp comprising cooperating jaws constructed and arranged detachably to receive an intermediate section of choker rope and to resist movement of said rope therein in the direction producing increase in the size of the'choker loo until and unless positive disengagement is effected.

A further object is to provide in a choker hook, a clamp for detachably retaining a choker rope in which clamp the gripping and releasing of said rope is accomplished by the manual movement of a pin having sections of different effective diameters.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the choker hook embodying the present invention showing portions of wire rope engaged therewith;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of arrow 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the clamp of the present invention taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 4. and 5 are sectional views similar to Fig. 3, showing the sequential steps involved in effecting release of the clamp of the present invention.

In a bundling choker embodying my invention, referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, an integral body I defines a clamping cam member 2 at one end thereof and an offset coupling member 3 at the opposite end. The coupling memberillustrated is substantially V- shaped in side elevation, as is shown in Fig. 2. The lower portion thereof, 1. e. the portion adjacent the clamping cam member, is ofiset rearwardly from the plane of the clamp, while the upper, or terminal end of the coupling member is bent forwardly to incline over the lower portion. The central portion of the coupling member adjacent the clamping cam member is recessed, defining an aperture 4 through which the line 5 is threaded for attachment to the coupling.

Formed in the side sections adjacent said aperture 4 and projecting normally from the lane of the body i are a pair of spaced tunnels or eyes 6 defining axially aligned bores l for receiving the line to be anchored. The opposed faces of the tunnels or eyes are inclined toward each other at opposite sides of aperture 4 to form fingers 8 which serve to restrain the line from moving laterally within the aperture. The upper, or terminal, portion of the coupling member overlying the lower portion also is provided with an eye 9 arranged centrally therein. A groove i8 is formed in one of the edges of said upper portion adjacent one tunnel 8 to provide a guide channel in which one portion of the line 5 may be laid.

In attaching the line 5 to the coupling member, the end of the line is threaded through the eye 9 and thence rearwardly through aperture 3. The line then is flexed upwardly to lie in the groove H3 and to wrap around the coupling in back of the line emerging from the eye 9 to rest in the apex of the V formed by the upper and lower portions of the coupling member. The line then is threaded through the pair of tunnels t within the loop formed by the line passing through eye 9. This type of knot, and the procedure for forming it, is more fully described in U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,240,510 issued to me on May 6, 1941, and entitled Logging Choker and Fittings Therefor, in which patent the above discussed coupling is fully described and claimed. Said coupling is disclosed herein as being a pre ferred type of fitting, although not critical to the proper operation of a choker assembly embodying my present invention. Such other wellknown fittings as, for example, a closed eye, loop and hook, or ferrule-type connection may readily be adapted for use with the assembly of the present invention, provided one of the connecting parts be formed integrally with the clamping member 2 previously mentioned.

In Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the clamping cam member 2 is oifset at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the elongated coupling member 3. A transverse hole H is formed in the rearward portion of said member adjacent the coupling member, said hole being of suificient diameter to receive the enlarged end E2 of the pin it, the function of which is explained hereinafter. A gripping member 54 is provided at its rearward end with a bearing flange l5 spaced laterally from the remainder of the gripping member to provide a slot into which an intermediate portion of the clamping cam member 2 is received. Thus, the two spaced portions of said gripping member Ht define spaced flanges for receiving an intermediate section of said clamping cam member 2. An elongated slot 55 is formed in said bearing flange .15 to receive the enlarged end of the pin l3, while a hole H is provided in the grip member 14 to receive the reduced end I8 of the pin. This structure, in a broad sense, is a quick detachable means as will hereinafter be brought out.

As shown in Figs. 3 to 5, inclusive, the clamping cam member 2 is placed in the slot between the bearing flange and the gripping member 14,

and the pin [3 is inserted transversely through the elongated slot 16, the hole H and the hole ll pivotally to secure the clamping cam member 2. The reduced end of the pin I3 is then enlarged at its end to form a shoulder I9 which prevents the pin from being separated from the gripping member it. A hole 29 is drilled transversely through the reduced end of the pin at a position adjacent the outer face of the gripping member I l when the pin is in full locking position, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, to receive a wire 2!, or other keeper, such as a cotter pin. This wire insures, against accidental displacement of the pin by preventing the enlarged end of the pin from moving out of the hole H. In choker assemblies for use with light ropes the pin it may be merely tapered, rather than stepped, as heretofore described, and the holes provided in the flanges may be constructed to correspond to the dimensions of the pin.

The free end of the gripping member i4 is formed in the shape of a saddle 22 which faces and cooperates with the curved convex shoe 23 forming the end of the offset clamping cam member 2 for releasably gripping an intermediate section of the choker rope E, the end of which is secured to the coupling member 8. The inner surface of the saddle is curved sharply outward at its receiving end 28 for purposes presently to be explained.

In the operation of the choker assembly hereinabove described, the end of the choker rope is secured to the coupling member 3 in the manner before discussed, and the rope is looped about the log or bundle of logs or other articles to be handled. With the pin 113 in the locking position and the wire keeper 2! aihxed as shown in Fig. 3, the gripping member 14 is rotated away from the shoe 23 sufficiently to introduce an intermediate section of the rope into saddle 22. The free end of the rope, which has been provided with a terminal fitting such as the type disclosed and claimed in the U. S. patent referred to hereinbeiore, is then secured to a drag line. As the drag line exerts, a pull upon the choker rope, the latter slides freely through the saddle 22 in the direction of the arrow 25, thereby decreasing the diameter of the choker loop encompassing the bundle.

When the articles are brought into such a compact bundle as to prevent further closing of the choker loop, the outward pressure exerted by the bundle upon the rope overlying the receiving end 2 of the saddle and upon the coupling member 3 tends to force the saddle 22 and the gripping member hi downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 1, into axial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the coupling. By this downward move-- ment the rope frictionally is gripped between the saddle 22 and the shoe 23, and the bundle is retained in compact form. Moreover, the pressure exerted by the bundle upon the rope overlying the sharply curved receiving end 24 of the saddle 22 produces a sharp, but not shearing, bend in the rope which fits closely against the saddle. It has been discovered that this close union at the sharp bend greatly increases the holding power of the clamp.

Logs, for example, thus tightly bundled may thereafter be hauled from the forest to the shipping site, and the drag line released. Since the outward pressure of the bundle maintains the clamp in positive gripping position, it is apparent that no tension need be maintained upon the free end of the choker rope. The bundle thus formed may be loaded upon trucks or freight cars, or discharged into a water way, for trans port to the mill for processing.

When it is desired to release the bundle, the keeper wire 2| is removed from the hole 20 in the reduced end of the pin, and the workman. applies a sharp blow with a hammer upon the shouldered end of the pin. This drives the pin from its locking position, as shown in Fig. 3, to its fully released, or retracted, position as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Generally, the instant that the enlarged end l2 of the pin is withdrawn from the hole I! in the clamp 3, as in Fig. 4, the latter immediately springs rearwardly the length permitted by the reduced end [8 of the pin, thus releasing the grip upon the choker rope disposed in the saddle 22. The choker assembly is then withdrawn from about the logs and returned to the logging site for further use. Additionally, removal of the choker rope from the choker hook is accommodated by the laterally open portion 22a of the saddle 22. This open portion is exposed by the swinging or rearward release movement of the shoe 23 as best shown in Fig. 5.

I claim:

1. A choker hook comprising, a body member having a fixed clamping cam at one end and a rop coupling means at the opposite end, a gripping member having spaced flanges at one end thereof for receiving an intermediate section of said body member therebetween, a pin having an elongated transverse section and a reduced transverse section, an elongated slot in one of said flanges and a reduced opening in the opposite flange for slidably receiving said pin, an opening intermediate the ends of said body member aligning with the transverse openings in said flanges and having a diameter substantially equal to the largest efiective diameter of said pin for receiving said pin therethrough, and saddle means on the end of said gripping member opposing said clamping cam and cooperating therewith for releasablysecuring an intermediate portion of a choker rope therebetween, said saddle means terminating short of and being spaced longitudinally from one of said flanges to define a lateral opening through which said choker rope intermediate portion selectively may be inserted and released.

2. A choker hook comprising, an elongated body havingrope coupling means at one end, a saddle means pivotally joined to said body intermediate the ends of the latter, and a clamping cam fixed to the other end of said body, said clamping cam lying within said saddle and cooperating with said saddle to engage a rope between them, said saddle means being swingable selectively about an axis to two different positions, in one of which it is in close proximity to said clamping cam and in gripping relationship therewith, and in the other in which it is spaced therefrom to be out of gripping relationship therewith, a pin extending laterally of said body constituting the pivotal joining connection between said body and said saddle means, a lateral opening piercing one side of said saddle means intermediate the cooperating portions of said saddle and clamping cam, said lateral opening being exposed by the movement of said saddle means out of gripping relationship with said clamping cam.

3. A choker hook comprising, an elongated body having rope coupling means at one end and a fixed clamping cam member at the other end, said clamping cam member terminating in a curved shoe, an elongated gripping member terminating in a saddle having one closed and one open side, a pivot pin extending laterally through and pivotally joining said body and gripping member, said shoe being carried opposite to and being pivotable within said saddle to define therewith a pair of opposed gripping jaws, and quick detachable means cooperating with said pivot pin and independent of the pivotal movement of said body and gripping member for releasing said opposed gripping jaws and freeing the same for lateral movement away from one another.

4. A three piece choker hook comprising, in combination, a first piece defined by an elongated body member having rope coupling means at one end and a fixed clamping cam at the other end, a second piece defined by an elongated gripping member having spaced flanges at one end and a saddle at the other end, said saddle being open at one side, and a third piece defined by a keeper pin having a reduced end and an enlarged end, a complementary reduced slot piercing one of said gripping member flanges and a complementary enlarged slot piercing the other of said flanges, the intermediate portion of said body member being pierced by an opening substantially equal to said enlarged slot, said keeper pin being carried by said complementary slots and said opening pivotally to join said first and second pieces with said saddle and clamping cam arranged in opposing relationship one to another.

5. A choker hook comprising, an elongated body member having rope coupling means at one end and a fixed clamping cam at the other end, an elongated gripping member terminating in a saddle having one closed and one open side, and quick detachable mean extending laterally through and pivotally joining said body and gripping member, said clamping cam being pivotable within said saddle to define therewith a pair of gripping jaws, said quick detachable means being independent of the pivotal movement of said body and gripping member to release said gripping aws.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,045,568 Larson Nov. 26, 1912 1,100,552 Galloway June 16, 1914 1,144,430 Powers June 29, 1915 2,416,733 Berndt Mar. 4, 1947 2,611,638 Meighan Sept. 23, 1952 

